The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-12
CENTRAL PUSHING WEST
TO CONNECT WITH THE ILLINOIS
CENTRAL SYSTEM.

The Savannah and Griffin Road to be
catur Ala. - Negotiations Pending
With the Rome and Carrollton People
President Alexander's Policy in Re-
gard to Branch Lines.
The Central railroad is about to extend
number of its branch lines in Georgia and
Alabama. The policy of the present man
agement is to occupy new territory as
rapidly as it can. President Alexander has
in view the early extension of a number of
short branches between here and Macon
One of these is from Midwife to Swainsbor
ough. Another is from Wadley to Marys-
vile and south towards Mount Vernon.
Another will run south from Rocky Ford
In Southwest Georgia the extension of the
Southwestern railroad from Blakely to
Columbia, Ala, is likely to be accomplished
at an early day. The Eufaula and Clayton
branch will be extended south from Clayton
to Ozark, and the Mobile and Girard will
be pushed through to Elba. Engineers are
already in the field working in that direc-
ton.
ANOTHER THROUGH LINE.
President Alexander is negotiating with
the Rome and Carrollton people In regard
to an extension to Chattanooga, and will
leave in few days to look over the terri
tory between Chattanooga and Rome, which
is claimed to be rich in coal and only needs
developing to make it one of the best min
ing sections of the South.
One of the most important extensions
which the Central management has in view
is that of the Savannah and Griffin branch
west from Carrollton to some point in
North Alabama, probably Decatur. There
it will connect with the Illinois Central,
which is to be extended to that point from
Milan, Tenn.
TO MEET THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL.
The extension has already been agreed
upon and an engineering corps is now in the
field. The most direct route and the one
that is being considered is from Carrollton
to Jacksonville, a distance of about sixty
miles, and from there to Gadsden, twenty
miles further on in direct line toward De-
catur. road has already been built part
Of the way between Jacksonville and Gads-
den and is ready for the cross
ties. Ii the route between Carrollton
and Jacksonville, and from Gadsden west
to Decatur, is found to be feasible it is likely
that some arrangement will be made to
utilize the Jacksonville and Attala road,
already built between jacksonville and
Gadsden. Everything will depend, how
ever, upon the surveys which are yet to be
made.
TWO PARALLEL LINES.
With this extension, and that from Good
water to Birmingham, completed the Cen
trail will have two very nearly parallel lines
to the West--One to Kansas City via Biz
mingham, and the other via Memphis to st.
Louis. Aside from forming by the connec-
ton with the Illinois Central through
line, the road from Carrolton to
Decatur will traverse and develop one of
the finest sections Of country in Northern
Alabama. 1t will cross diagonally a section
which is not reached by any other road,
and will give direct route to the West and
South.
The building Of branch from Carrollton
to Chattanooga will give the Central an out
let there instead of over the State road, as
at present.
NOT AFTER THE STATE ROAD.
The Central is not disposed at present to
make any effort toward securing the State
road. Ii the route from Carrollton to Chat
tanooga is what it is believed to be-
the Central viii at once take steps to secure
an outlet in that direction, at the same time
developing what is claimed to be one of the
finest mining and agricultural dis
State. The Rome and Carrollton
already has a narrow gauge line from Rome
to Cedartown, which viii be changed to the
standard gauge With these two extensions
the Central will not only secure a through
traffic, but will bring to Savannah traffic
that now goes elsewhere.
TO PUSH THE BRANCH LINES.
President Alexander'S policy is to push
the branch roads wherever they will form a
feeder to the system The idea is to work
west into Alabama, and to strengthen the
Georgia system rather than the South Caro-
lima system.
The carrying out of the proposed plans
will require the expenditure of large
amount of money, and it is understood that
this is one of the objects of the So, 900, 900
loan which was recently negotiated in New
York, and for which bonds are about to be
issued